L.I. Man Charged In 2011 Murder Of High School Classmate
CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island man has been charged with the murder of his classmate two years ago.
As WCBS 880's Sophia Hall reported, Thomas Liming, 21, was arraigned Friday in Suffolk County Court in the death of Kyle Underhill, 18.
L.I. Man Charged In 2011 Murder Of High School Classmate
Underhill's body was found in November 2011, not far from his Islip, Long Island home. Prosecutors said he was beaten to death, and his body left in a marsh of Brook Street.
Liming was charged with second-degree murder, and was ordered held on $5 million cash bail. Prosecutors did not reveal a motive for the slaying.
Liming's attorney said when the jury hears all the evidence, his client will be found not guilty. Some have said that Liming and Underhill were best friends.
The two graduated from Islip High School in May 2011, a few months before Underhill was slain. The victim most recently had worked as a busboy at Tellers Restaurant in Islip and at a nearby bakery, and had attended college in Farmingdale.
Underhill also caused a stir with what he wrote for the school's yearbook. Under his photo was this quote: "I don't think I've ever known so many people I hated so much all at once. See you in Abbadon."
Abbadon commonly refers to the depths of hell.
There was no answer at Liming's home on Saturday but neighbors said that the mood in the community was "gloomy".
"Everybody's pretty gloomy right now. This is a community thing. There's two families destroyed," Bill Scampoli said.
Scampoli said that Liming's father always set a good example for his family and neighbors.
"They were in the neighborhood watch, he was a volunteer EMS, he's served a couple of tours in Afghanistan, good family," he said.
The discovery of Underhill's body in 2011 prompted odd reactions from friends, CBS 2's Steve Langford reported.
"Some people like him, some people hate him, and I don't know what could have led to this to happen," Brian Melton said.
Underhill had been last seen at the bakery where he worked part time. The owner said that he left work at 6 p.m. with Liming.
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